Category: Uncategorized

1.
Green climate fund approves $1 billion for projects in poor countries
Officials overseeing a UN-backed fund to help poor countries tackle climate change have approved more than USD 1 billion in new investments after a four-day meeting in Bahrain.
The Green Climate Fund said Sunday that the meeting approved 19 new projects, including a program to protect freshwater resources in Bahrain.
Source- Economic Times
2.
Vice President asks aviation industry to place passengers’ convenience at the centre of all activities
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has asked aviation industry to place passengers’ convenience at the centre of all activities
. Mr Naidu was addressing a gathering in New Delhi on Tuesday after releasing the Economic Impact Report and Coffee Table Book encapsulating the growth story of Indian Aviation.
He said the growth of the aviation sector will have a multiplier effect on the Indian economy as it will positively impact the hospitality and tourism sectors among others
Source- All India Radio
3.
PM Modi Announces National Award In Netaji’s Name For Rescue Workers
The announcement came on the 75th anniversary of Bose’s declaration of the formation of India’s first independent government — the Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943.
The Prime Minister also applauded the services of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel.
Source- NDTV
4.
CBDT releases Direct Tax Statistics

the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has further released time-series data as updated up to FY 2017-18 and income-distribution data for AY 2016-17 and AY 2017-18. The key highlights of these statistics are as under:
There is a constant growth in direct tax-GDP ratio over last three years and the ratio of 5.98% in FY 2017-18 is the best DT-GDP ratio in last 10 years.
There is a growth of more than 80% in the number of returns filed in the last four financial years from 3.79 crore in FY 2013-14 (base year) to 6.85 crore in FY 2017-18.
The number of persons filing return of income has also increased by about 65% during this period from 3.31 crore in FY 2013-14 to 5.44 crore in FY 2017-18.
Sushil Chandra is the Present Chairman of CBDT.
Source- Press Information Bureau
5.
International Finance Corporation launches $1-billion masala bonds
International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a $1-billion masala bond programme to fund its investment activities in India.
The announcement comes in the backdrop of the Indian government looking to boost capital flows into the country.
The government has taken a series of steps to support masala bonds —rupee-denominated borrowings issued overseas — including exempting these from withholding tax.
Source- Economic Times
6.
India 9th most valuable nation brand in the world; US, China lead the list
Topping the list and maintaining its lead is US with a brand value of $25,899 billion which rose by 23% from last year.
India was ranked 8th in last year’s report but slipped by a spot to the 9th rank. Despite its brand value rising 5% from last year, India has slipped one rank for the second consecutive year.
India’s brand value was $2,046 billion in 2017 and has increased to $2,159 billion in 2018, the report mentioned. India is one of the only two countries in the top 10 to have lost a spot. The other country to slip by a rank is Japan.
Source- Business Today
7.
L&T ranks 22 in Forbes’ best global employer list
Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro, which is majority owned by its employees, is the only domestic firm to be featured among the top 25 companies in the Forbes’ global 2000 best employers list that is led by Google parent Alphabet.
L&T is ranked 22, there are only four domestic firms in the top 100 list which include Mahindra & Mahindra at 55, Grasim Industries at 59 and HDFC at 91, and only 24 domestic companies in the overall list,as per the US magazine.
This year, German companies are the second most represented on the top 10. Auto company Daimler ranks seventh, and BMW scores the tenth spot.
Source- Economic Times
8.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Mumbai beat Delhi to lift title for third time
Mumbai players pose with the trophy after beating Delhi in Vijay Hazare trophy final match, at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Saturday, Oct 20, 2018
Mumbai last won the trophy way back in 2006-07 when they defeated Rajasthan.
Source- The Indian Express
9.
Nobel chemistry laureate Shimomura passes away at 90
Japanese-born Marine biologist Osamu Shimomura, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, has died. He was 90. His alma mater Nagasaki University said on Oct. 22, that Shimomura died on October 19 of natural causes.
Shimomura and two American scientists shared the 2008 Nobel prize for the discovery and development of a jellyfish protein that later contributed to cancer studies.
Source- The Hindu1.

Green climate fund approves $1 billion for projects in poor countries

Officials overseeing a UN-backed fund to help poor countries tackle climate change have approved more than USD 1 billion in new investments after a four-day meeting in Bahrain.

The Green Climate Fund said Sunday that the meeting approved 19 new projects, including a program to protect freshwater resources in Bahrain.

Source- Economic Times

2.

Vice President asks aviation industry to place passengers’ convenience at the centre of all activities

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has asked aviation industry to place passengers’ convenience at the centre of all activities

. Mr Naidu was addressing a gathering in New Delhi on Tuesday after releasing the Economic Impact Report and Coffee Table Book encapsulating the growth story of Indian Aviation.

He said the growth of the aviation sector will have a multiplier effect on the Indian economy as it will positively impact the hospitality and tourism sectors among others

Source- All India Radio

3.

PM Modi Announces National Award In Netaji’s Name For Rescue Workers

The announcement came on the 75th anniversary of Bose’s declaration of the formation of India’s first independentgovernment — the Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943.

The Prime Minister also applauded the services of the NationalDisasterResponse Force and State DisasterResponse Force personnel.

Source- NDTV

4.

CBDT releases Direct Tax Statistics

the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has further released time-series data as updated up to FY 2017-18 and income-distribution data for AY 2016-17 and AY 2017-18. The key highlights of these statistics are as under:

There is a constant growth in direct tax-GDP ratio over last three years and the ratio of 5.98% in FY 2017-18 is the best DT-GDP ratio in last 10 years.

There is a growth of more than 80% in the number of returns filed in the last four financial years from 3.79 crore in FY 2013-14 (base year) to 6.85 crore in FY 2017-18.

The number of persons filing return of income has also increased by about 65% during this period from 3.31 crore in FY 2013-14 to 5.44 crore in FY 2017-18.

Sushil Chandra is the Present Chairman of CBDT.

Source- Press Information Bureau

5.

International Finance Corporation launches $1-billion masala bonds

International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a $1-billion masala bond programme to fund its investment activities in India.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of the Indian government looking to boost capital flows into the country.

The government has taken a series of steps to support masala bonds —rupee-denominated borrowings issued overseas — including exempting these from withholding tax.

Source- Economic Times

6.

India 9th most valuable nation brand in the world; US, China lead the list

Topping the list and maintaining its lead is US with a brand value of $25,899 billion which rose by 23% from last year.

India was ranked 8th in last year’s report but slipped by a spot to the 9th rank. Despite its brand value rising 5% from last year, India has slipped one rank for the second consecutive year.

India’s brand value was $2,046 billion in 2017 and has increased to $2,159 billion in 2018, the report mentioned. India is one of the only two countries in the top 10 to have lost a spot. The other country to slip by a rank is Japan.

Source- Business Today

7.

L&T ranks 22 in Forbes’ best global employer list

Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro, which is majority owned by its employees, is the only domestic firm to be featured among the top 25 companies in the Forbes’ global 2000 best employers list that is led by Google parent Alphabet.

L&T is ranked 22, there are only four domestic firms in the top 100 list which include Mahindra & Mahindra at 55, Grasim Industries at 59 and HDFC at 91, and only 24 domestic companies in the overall list,as per the US magazine.

This year, German companies are the second most represented on the top 10. Auto company Daimler ranks seventh, and BMW scores the tenth spot.

Mumbai last won the trophy way back in 2006-07 when they defeated Rajasthan.

Source- The Indian Express

9.

Nobel chemistry laureate Shimomura passes away at 90

Japanese-born Marine biologist Osamu Shimomura, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, has died. He was 90. His alma mater Nagasaki University said on Oct. 22, that Shimomura died on October 19 of natural causes.

Shimomura and two American scientists shared the 2008 Nobel prize for the discovery and development of a jellyfish protein that later contributed to cancer studies.

Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare released an Analytical Report of the National Health Profile-2018 prepared by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), under the aegis of the Directorate General of Health Services at Patna.

The National Health Profile covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health. CBHI has been publishing National Health Profile every year since 2005. This is the 12th edition.

J P Nadda is the present Health Minister of India.

Source-Press Information Bureau

2.Air Quality Warning System launched in Delhi to combat worsening air pollution

Earth Sciences Minister Dr Harshvardhan unveiled an Air Quality early warning system for Delhi region, in New Delhi today. The system has been designed with the help of American and Finnish models to predict extreme air pollution levels. It will also give s for necessary actions.

Talking about the stubble burning, he said, there has been a decrease in detection of fire incidents as per satellite mapping in Haryana and Punjab. He said, instructions have been issued to monitor stubble burning in these areas on priority.

Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta on Saturday said that the Ministry would release Rs 7.8 crore for the construction of a textile tourism complex in Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.

The Union Minister further informed that the funds would be released within 15 days.

He visited various weaving centers in Shillong on Saturday and said that the NBCC has completed the construction of an apparel center worth Rs 14 crores in the state.

Ajay Tamta is Member of Parliament (MP) from Almora, Uttarakhand constituency.

Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya.Conrad Sangma is Chief Minister of Meghalaya.

Tathagata Roy is Governor of Meghalaya

Source-Business Standard

5.India and Sri Lanka sign two MoU for construstion of 1200 houses

India and Sri Lanka today signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for construction of 1200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of 60 crore Srilankan rupees.

The MoUs were signed by Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, and Mr. Bernard Vasantha, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Construction, in the presence of Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction.

The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C. R. Chaudhary, attended the 6th RCEP Inter-sessionalMinisterial Meeting (IMM) in Singapore on 12-13 October, 2018.

The Ministers from 16 RCEP countries met in Singapore to discuss a modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among ASEAN and ASEAN’s FTA partners.

ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN has emerged as the second largest trade partner of India in 2017-18 with bilateral trade valued at US$ 81.33 billion, comprising 10.58% of India’s total trade with the world.

Source- Press Information Bureau

7.India, China launch 1st joint project to train Afghan diplomats

In a move that could upset Pakistan, India and China have launched their first joint programme for Afghanistan to train its diplomats.

An understanding to launch a joint programme in Afghanistan was reached during an informal summit between PMNarendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held in April at China’s Wuhan city.

Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan (Vinay Kumar) “hosted 10 Afghan Diplomats who will be travelling to India for the 1st India-China joint training programme for Afghan diplomats under the aegis of the trilateral vooperation between India, China and Afghanistan.